Shark‑shaped ice creams sell out as Busan’s surprise visitor sparks frenzy on land

A shark, likely a bull shark, swam into an artificial waterway in Busan, South Korea, sparking a frenzy among locals and drawing massive crowds this month. The 3.5-meter-long predator, nicknamed 'Bukhangi', caused a surge in sales of shark-shaped ice cream bars at nearby convenience stores. Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo praised the publicity generated by the shark, which would have cost "trillions" to create artificially.

The popularity of Bukhangi even lifted shares in The Pinkfong Company, the studio behind the viral Baby Shark song, by more than seven per cent. Kim Jin-koo, a professor of global fisheries at Pukyong National University, noted that shark sightings in South Korean waters are extremely rare, although warming water temperatures may have drawn the shark closer to the coast.

The shark's fame also led to the spread of false rumors, with some social media users claiming a second fish had been spotted, falsely suggesting it was Bukhangi's offspring. Authorities have since confirmed no additional sharks have been seen in the area.